SPORT HORSE MEDICINE

Sport Horse Medicine addresses the needs of competitive horses with the goal of maximizing their athletic performance and prolonging their competitive careers. Although lameness is typically the number one problem associated with equine athletes, many other medical conditions can impair their performance and quality of life.

Gastric ulcers are a frequent cause of poor performance, reduced appetite, and recurrent colic. We can diagnose these with gastroscopy and prescribe appropriate therapy and management changes for your horse.

Many respiratory conditions including infection, allergies, and mechanical dysfunction will prevent comfortable breathing and oxygen exchange. We offer a range of vaccinations tailored to your horses's environment and travel schedule to prevent infection. Endoscopy of the palate, larynx and trachea can offer insight into problems with function of the throat, inflammation in the airway, and identify the origin of nasal discharges. Digital radiographs of the skull can show sinus tumors and infections, as well as tooth root disease. Bronchoalveolar lavage (lung wash) enables us to retrieve cells and bacteria from the lungs to identify the cause of allergy and heaves symptoms, and to guide us to the proper treatment. Serum allergy testing is also offered to identify environmental irritants that your horse is sensitive to.

Several metabolic conditions such as tying up, PSSM (polysaccharide storage muscle disease) low thyroid, anemia, and cushings disease can be identified with various blood tests. While the signs of these conditions are sometimes quite obvious, they are often very subtle and the only evidence of them is reduced performance. Identification of these problems is the first step towards successful management of the athlete.

If medications are prescribed, we also provide guidance for appropriate pre-competition withdrawal times and possible interactions with other drugs. Full coggins, health certificate, scratch slip and FEI/CEF passport completion services are also provided.